Bath brush



Nov. 27, A1951 BATH BRUSH Filed Feb. 18,' 1949 B. B. GAMBLE Attorney Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED '.lsTAjT-Es PATENTv OFFICE I' fgfatwr v, u i' V I ,'*BATH BRUSH y y., Bessiengcamb, Clovis, 1-1.1\/Iex. k Application February 18, 1.949, Serial No, 77,153

l This invention relates to a novel construction of bath brush especially adapted for use in washing the back and shoulders and which is of flexible construction so that the bristle portion thereof can be positioned to engage any part of the back or shoulders. f

Another object of the invention is toprovide a flexible bath brush having elongated handles projecting from the ends thereof and which may be engaged for moving the brush in a back and forth movement across any part of the back or shoulders. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush having elongated flexible handles which are substantially circular and relatively small in cross section to enable them to be conveniently ford a relatively restricted surface for engagement Vwith the back for preventing the handle portions from sticking or clinging to thebody while the brush is in use or' at least to minimize any tendency of said elongated handles to thus stick or cling to the body.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a bath brush having a novelly constructedl head in which the bristles are effectively anchored in a manner so that the brush head can flex to maintain the bristle surface of the brushin contact with any contour of the back or shoulders and Awherein the bristles are so mounted with respect to the brush head that there will be nopull or strain exerted thereon when the brush head Ais bowed longitudinally to conform generally to the curvature of the portion of the body which th .bristle surface of the brush is engaging. f

stm a. further object of the invention is to provide a brush including a brush head and elongated,

bath brush;

- Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross`sectionalv `view through the brush taken substantially alongra plane as indicated by the line'3--3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through one of the handles taken substantially alonga plane'as indicated by the line 4-'4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 Vis a side elevational View, partly. in longitudinal section of another form ofy thebath brush;

Figure 6 is a top plan view, partly in longitudinal section thereof, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view 2 claims. (ci. v15--1sm j L Y thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicatedby the line 'I-l ofFigure 5. A Referring more specifically tothe drawing and iirst with reference to 4the form'of the invention as illustrated in Figures l to 4, thebath brush as disclosed therein and comprising lone preferred form' of the invention is designated generally 8 and includes a brush, designated generally 9 com- Y The brush headV II .includes an inner section I2 and an outer section I3, as best illustratedin Figure 3, each of whichsections is relatively wide and thick and substantially flat and preferably formed of a relatively non-elastic rubber or rubber composition. The brush head ysection I2 is of a less flexible construction than the outer brush head section I3 due to the taper and -said section I2 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced rows of apertures I l the apertures of each of which rows are disposed in transversely spaced relationship. The bristle portion I0 is composed of a plurality vof groups of bristles I5 which are folded back upon themselves and the end portions of each group of bristles I5 are passed outwardly through two adjacent transversely spaced apertures I4tor form complementary outwardly projecting tufts of bristles.v Accordingly, the two tufts of each group of bristles I5 are disposed in transversely spaced relationship with respect to the brush 9,y for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. After the bristles have all thus been mounted relatively to the inner Vbrush head section I2, the sections I2 and I3 are positioned in abutting engagement'as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and are suitably sealed or bonded together in any desired manner as by vulcaniz- Thel bath brush 9 also includes corresponding elongated yrope-like handles I6 one of which is formed integral with and projects from each end .of theelongated brush head I I and the end portions of the brush head Il accordingly taper in width as indicated atv I'I to merge with the inner ends of the handles I6. Said handles I6 are preferably circular in crossy section and of a diameter at their inner ends somewhat greater than `the thickness of the brush head II and are accordingly beveled on opposite sides thereof, as indicated at I 8, to merge with the upper and lower surfaces of the brush head II. The elongatedv rope-like handles I6 preferably taper toward their outer ends and each terminates in van `enlargement I9 at its outer end which is prefone of the enlargements or knobs I9 with each' hand for positioning the bristle surface I of the brush 9 against any part of the back or shoulders and said brush 8 can be operated with a' back D and forth motion for washing any part of 'the back or shoulders. The flexibility of the brush head II will permit the bristle surface III-to readily adapt itself to the contour or shape of any portion `Vof 'the Vzbody engaged thereby and the handles I6 and enlargements I9 will afford'surffaces which may tbe readily lgripped for position- -ing Ithebrush head at any desired angle With-re- 'spectto any Vpart of the back or shoulders. Furthermore, the circular cross sectional shape of the 'handles 'I6 `vvill produce a very limited surface of vsaid handles which will Contact the body 'While the :brush v`is in use to thereby minimize Athe tendency rof the handles to stick for cling to V,the backl when Wet. The transverse disposition of V'the Iend -portions or tufts of each of thegroups of `-bristles -I5 :will permit 'the brush 9 to flex transversely without subjecting the vbristles to strain orpull.

Figur-'es #5, 6 and 7 :illustrate a slightly differ- -'ent embodiment of the invention comprising a bathbruSh, designated generally which'is substantially identical `in shape and size to Vthe bath brush '8 and wherein the brush proper, designated generally -2I :is composed of arbristle portion 22 and a brush head, designated generally '23 Yand which 'is likewise composed of an inner section 24 yand `an outer section 25. The sections 24 and 25 are formed of plastic rather than rubber or rubber lcomposition and the section .24 is provided With openings 26, corresponding to the openings I4 and by means of which the groups lof Ybristles forming the bristle -portion 22 are mounted infthe brushhead 2-3 inthe samemanner as the bristles are mounted in the brush head II. The brush head-sections 24vand 25are sealed or bonded ltogether in any suitable manner. 'The `brush head section 25 diifers from the .brush head section I3 in lthat it is reinforced by a plurality of Astrands 2'I of cord or the like and which extend longitudinally therethrough, preferably spaced from the side edges thereof. Therstrands 21-areo`f a length 'to-extend substantiallybeyond each fend of Vthe brush head 2| and the end -por- `tions thereof are twisted to form ropes 28 `which yare imbedded longitudinally in handles 29,'co`rrespending in shape `externally to the handles I6 Vand which project from the ends of vthe 'brush "head `2fI and 'are formed integral therewith. The

ropes 28 have enlargements 30 at their terminals v-vv-hich are imbedded in the'knobs or enlargements -31 on the outer ends of the handles '29. The plastic forming .the handles 29 possesses a degree of flexibility substantially the equivalent ofthat of 'the outer brush head Ysection v25 and considerably greater than the flexibility ofthe Vinner :brush 'head sectioni24. As previously stated, the exter- -nal size andshapeofthe brush head'2I and hanvdles 29 :are substantially the same as'that of the .brush head I-I and handles I6, respectively. The

4 L' bath brush 20 is utilized in the same manner and for the same purpose as the bath brush 8 and a description of its operation and use Will there- Vfore not .be repeated.

Various modifications rand changes in'the embodiments of theinvention as disclosed are con- .templated and may obviously be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim'asmy invention:

1. Abathbrushcomprisng a brush head, elongated handles projecting from each end of the brushhead, an enlargement on the outer end of each handle, said brush head and handles being formed .of -a relatively iiexible material, and a pluralityfof'tufts of'bristles'embeddedin and anrchored to the brush head and havingriend `portions projecting v outwardly from zspaced l.portions 4of one side thereof, -said brush head andfhandles formed of la relatively 'exible material, and a 4plurality of tuftso'f bristles embedded inand l:anchored to fthe brush 'head and having .end yportions projecting outwardly from spaced portions 'of one side thereof, 'saidbrush 'head Vand'handles beingintegrally formed, and reinforcing means extending longitudinally through the brush head and "handles, :said reinforcing means comprising aplurality of strands of :rope material `disposed inside by side relationship extending longitudinally through the brush head and having 'twisted end portions extending therebeyond and forming ropes disposed inthe handles yand in the enlargements for reinforcing and vstrengthening the brush head and handles, said imbedded 4bristle portions being spaced 'from the portions of the reinforcing .means Which-extend through the brush head, and said handlespossessing -a greater degree o'f flexibility than the -brush head.

'BESSIE'B- GAMBLE.v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of lthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number "Name Date 59,733 Wright Nov. 413, 1866 1,160,370 Bradshaw Nov. 16, .1915 `1,232,075 Oates AJuly 3,1917 1,473,315 Poirier Nov. 6, 1923 1,628,023 Adkins May 10,1927 1,699,261 Wissmar Jan. '15, 1929 2,014,293 Riley Sept. "10, 1935 2,326,811 VWiggamet al Aug. 17, 1943 v2,395,094 Booharin Feb. 19, 1946 2,488,873 Maynard Nov. .22, 1949 

